So we are now entering the time of smokey skies that begs the question “What else can we do inside?”.  Today I went to a movie (I went to one yesterday, too), Aaron went to the bowling alley, we have watched hours of the Little League World Series and paced the living room.  I could deal with a little smoke.  Wouldn’t slow me down in the least.  I would still be tubing rivers and hiking trails.  But this is some apocalyptic shit.  The mountains we are surrounded by are invisible to us now and there is a thin layer of ash on our cars.

So we will have to get creative.  In a small town, small valley for that matter, options are limited.  There are no arcades, no Dave & Buster’s, no Chuck E. Cheese, no Main Event.  We have a mall (kinda) but it is only stores, not a large mall like in metro areas.  I swear, the last time I went to a mall in Austin I think I dropped $50 with all the activities they have in them now.  There is a trampoline place in Kalispell, 10 miles down the road, but I don’t think they have air conditioning and usually have the large garage door open lest we all melt from the heat of sweaty, little bodies flying through the air.

We haven’t hit the indoor pool yet at our fitness center, so that may be on tap for tomorrow.  I also have to grocery shop, so walking around the store will fill some time.  But I’m tired of being cooped up.  Dare I say it?  I’m crabby!  Trying not to be, but crabby all the same.  And I know I am being silly.  We are safe from losing our house, my husband is not on the front lines fighting these blazes and in the large scheme of things we are talking about a couple of smokey weeks.

I think what I will do to improve my attitude tonight is sink into my tub with a  book and a beer, realize that in the measure of life this is only a blip and smile and breathe.  The reason I always finish these posts with those words are that when needing to get a lift for whatever reason, I point my eyes skyward and smile while inhaling.  And even if it is just for a split second, when I do this, I have a moment of joy.  A lift of heart.  So I will be looking upward a lot tonight and smiling as I do, while inhaling and focusing on the fact that it will all blow over eventually xxoo

Photos from my friend Paula H.  Same spot, different view